UFC President Says it's Time for Matt Hughes and Forrest Griffin to Walk Away
It’s been nearly a year since Matt Hughes lest set foot in the Octagon, and if it’s up to UFC president Dana White, the time that it has been will only get longer and longer.
In short, he wants the former UFC welterweight champion to retire. Period.
It is something Hughes has contemplated, but has yet to pull the trigger on. White, however, has his own mind made up.
“Hughes is one of these guys that I absolutely positively want Matt Hughes to retire. I mean, what else is there to accomplish. The guy has done everything,” said White after Thursday’s UFC on Fox 4 press conference.
“There’s nothing left to prove, but it's so hard for these guys to say, ‘I'm retired.’ It was the same thing with Chuck (Liddell); going through it with Matt.”
The 38-year-old Hughes has been around the block and then some.
He’s been fighting professional since 1998. He’s already a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He won the welterweight title on two occasions; defending the belt multiple times.
There’s really not much that Hughes hasn’t done. He even made the transition from the old SEG UFC to new Zuffa UFC complete by defeating Royce Gracie in dominant fashion.
Perhaps more surprising than saying he wanted Hughes to retire, however, was White’s steadfast belief that Forrest Griffin should hang up the gloves as well.
“I would like Forrest to retire. Nothing left for Forrest to prove either,” White declared.
“He won The Ultimate Fighter; had an amazing career. He won the title when people thought he couldn't. He became a huge star. He made (expletive) of money. He's got a beautiful wife; he's got a baby.
“If you don't want to be a world champion, why? What's the point? I get it. It's hard to walk away from walking into the arena with big crowds and all the (expletive).
“There comes a point man. You've had an amazing career; you've done great things. There's nothing left to prove.”
Griffin hasn’t wanted to hear any of it, according to White. He also shot down the idea of a trilogy fight between Griffin and Stephan Bonnar or them coaching opposite each other on TUF, where they both launched their UFC careers.
Nothing, however, has become definitive for either Hughes or Griffin, so only time will tell if their ready to lay their gloves down in the Octagon and walk away.
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